Conservative MPs representing North Wales have met the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP, after sending her a letter highlighting the devastating impact poor health services in the region are having on their constituents.
In their letter to the Secretary of State, the MPs, Dr James Davies MP (Vale of Clwyd), Sarah Atherton MP (Wrexham), Simon Baynes MP (Clwyd South), Virginia Crosbie MP (Ynys Môn), Rt Hon David Jones MP (Clwyd West), and Robin Millar MP (Aberconwy), said that “although health matters have been devolved in Wales for 25 years, they form a sizeable proportion of our weekly postbags as MPs”.
They said they are receiving correspondence from patients, their families and members of staff – including a number of senior clinicians, and that despite having been in special measures for a total of six years, they feel the situation at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has worsened.
Their letter further states,
“It is difficult to express quite how awful in nature the stories that we receive can be, but we believe it is no exaggeration to liken them to those that might emerge from a third world service.
“We each have a catalogue of cases we could share with you, which will only represent the tip of the iceberg. While the NHS faces significant pressures UK-wide, it is clear that the circumstances in North Wales are significantly worse.
“Too many of our constituents are experiencing avoidable death and harm as a result. It is a disgrace that some are feeling the need to move out of North Wales to other parts of the UK out of fear over the local health provision.”
In an effort to demonstrate this in a statistically significant and politically independent manner, the MPs have been pushing for HM Government to legislate for UK-wide comparable and interoperable health data and statistics on health performance and outcomes.
Their letter to the Secretary of State adds:
“We are certain that this would ultimately lead to the conclusion, among the most senior leaders and policymakers, that national-level intervention is required.”
The MPs have also pushed for a public inquiry to be launched; for the restoration of UK-wide healthcare audit, inspection and investigatory mechanisms; and for patients in North Wales to be given the right of access to NHS services in England.
They have also convened repeated meetings with many relevant bodies, including the Health Board itself; the Welsh Health Minister; the North Wales Community Health Council; the Senior Coroner for North Wales (East and Central); Healthcare Inspectorate Wales; the General Medical Council; the British Medical Association; Audit Wales; the Royal College of Surgeons; Health Education and Improvement Wales; Donna Ockenden; and others.
Their letter further states:
“It is our strong view that what has been taking place within the NHS in North Wales for over a decade constitutes a national scandal at least as significant as others previously exposed within the NHS elsewhere in Britain."
ITV Wales coverage: https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-05-07/betsi-cadwaladr-healthcare-in…
Further background information on James' efforts regarding the NHS in North Wales: https://www.jamesdavies.org.uk/campaigns/improving-health-services-nort…
